Garment press



22, 1933- H. G. SUTTON 1,923,516

GARMENT PRES S Filed July 51, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 nventor [fa/7y G. SUiiOIZ attorneys Aug. 22, 1933. SUTTON 1,923,516

GARMENT PRES S Filed July 31, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhwontor attorneys H. G. SUT'i'ON Aug. 22, 1933.

GARMENT PRES S Filed July 51, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 a a a w w 7 4 W 0 3 z 7 2 7 1. WI 6 ll 8 i I W Q 7? 6 1'1 2 T 51 2 5 mm a "m I 3 A, 4 5 y .2

' Zhmentor flan 6 uiion,

Gttornegs H. G. SUTTON GARMENT PRESS Aug. 22, 1933.

Filed Jul 51, 19:50

6 S heet H. G. SUTTON GARMENT PRE S S Aug. 22, 1933.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 31, 1930 ISnv ntor G Suiion Gttornegs 1 Patented Aug. 22, 1933 orrso stares GARMENT PRESS Harry G. Sutton, Syracuse, N. $1., ass'ignor to United States Hoffman Machinery 7 Corporation, New York, N. Y., a Corporation of Dela- Ware l Application July 31, 1930. Serial No. 472,071

'7 Claims. (01. 68-9) The present invention relates to clothes pressing machines, and particularly to power operated mechanism for applying final pressure to the goods being pressed. More specifically the invention pertains to a difiierential gear connection between a motor and a toggle mechanism, a safety device controllin this connection whereby the. application of final pressure is inhibited until such time as the movable press head is so closely spaced with respect to the press buck that the operator is unable to insert his hands or fingers between the cooperating presselements.

is, therefore, the principal object of this in"- vention to provide means for locking the differential when it desired to apply final pressure to the elementstogether with a cam which prevents actuation of the locking means untilthe press head has been lowered to a position immediately above the buck and in proximity thereto.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for automatic locking of the press head in its final pressure position to permit application of heavy pressure for as long a period as desired and means for thereafter releasing the locking mechanism to allow the head to be elevated.

Another object of the invention is .to permit preliminary lowering of the head by the power mechanism, this. preliminary movement being limited, however, by other cam means which pro-- vents final application of pressure except by the means specifically provided for this purpose.

Still another object of the invention is to pro vide means for releasing the differential lock if, for any reason, the lock should be thrown into engagement with the differential except by the operator-operated means for actuating the lock.

Other details and their functions will be understood from the following description from which the operation and relation of the main features of the invention will be apparent.

In the drawings there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the pressing ma'chinein which the several mechanisms included in the invention are incorporated.

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine in open position, certain of the parts being removed and portions of the machine being shown in section. I

Fig. 2 cept that the head is lowered and the lock controlling cam is shown in the position it assumes immediately prior to the application of final pressure.

is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 eX- Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the differential gear and lock controlling cam.

I Fig. 4 is a front view partly in section of the differential contro1.'

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, the parts thereof being broken for the sake of clearness. l

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the safety, cam for releasing the differential lock.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the cams and levers which control. the application of preliminar and final pressures.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the cams and lovers shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the differential lock controlling cam and operator levers therefor, some of the parts being disassembled and shown in spaced relation for clarity. I

Fig. 11 is a perspective view, of brake operating means employed in the actuation of the power means during preliminary lowering of the press head.

Referring to the drawings, the press comprises the usual base frame having an. extension 21 thereabove to which is fulcrumed the press head lever 22 carrying the movablev press element or head .23. A stationary press ele-- ment or buck 24 is secured to the frame above the table 25. The press is closed by the usual toggle mechanism comprising links 26, 27 piv oted to each other at 28. The link26 is connected to the lever 22 through a bell crank 29,

the latter being pivoted to the press lever 22 at 31 and to an adjustable resilient connection 32 between the bell crank and the front of the press head lever. The link 2'7 is pivoted to the frame 20 at 33. Springs 34 and 35 are connected respectively to lever 22 and link 2'7; as well as to the frame 20 normally to maintain the toggle'broken and the lever 22 in its elevated position.v I

The power means for lowering the press head includes a motor 36, wormshaft 37, worm 38. and worm gear 39. The toggle is adapted to be connected to the motor through a link 4.-1 pivotally connected at one end to link 27 and at its other end to a-disc-42 keyed to shaft 43. Also keyed to shaft 43 is a spider a l carrying planetary pinions l5 Whichmesh' with the differential gears 46, 47, both of which are free to rotate on shaft 43. gear 39 and since the motor runs continuously gear 46 is also a continuously rotating element.

Gear 46 is secured to worm Keyed to a boss on gear 47 is a locking ring 48 having teeth 49 on its periphery. Adapted to cooperate with the toothed periphery of the locking ring is a chamfered bolt 51 which'is slidably mounted. in a cylindrical guide 52 in the gear housing 53. The m ans for moving the bolt will be described hereinafter. It, is a parent that if the bolt be elevated to disengage the toothed ring, the gear 47 and ring 48 will be rotated in a directioi opposite that of gear 46, the spider being re "'vely stationary due to the resistance of the toggle mechanism. When the bolt is lowered, however, ring 48 and gear 47 will be held againstrotatioh; at which time the spider 44, shaft 43 and disc 42 will be rotated. A 2 to 1 reduction between worm gear 39 and shaft 43 is thus effected, resulting in a very efficient utilization of the power input.

Disc 42 is provided with an irregularly curved periphery designed to act as a cam for controlling the means by which the bolt 51 is lowered into engaging relation with the toothed ring 48 The bolt lowering mechanism and cam control are clearly illustrated. in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. The bolt is provided with a stem 54, the upper end of which is threaded to receive-an adjusting nut 55. Interposed between a washer 56 and shoulder 50 on bolt 51 is aspring 57 for relieving the bolt should it strike the high portion of one of the teeth 49 during the bolt lowering operation. A forked arm 58 straddles the reduced end of the bolt having, between washers 56 and 59, flattened sides which cooperate with arm 58 to prevent rotation of the bolt. Arm 58 is mount- 63' determines the force necessary to depress the bolt. Lever 62 also has a projection 66 which bears against a roller 67. on the depending arm 68 of hand lever 69. The lever 69 is fulcrumed on. shaft 71 supported in a bearing bracket 72 3 and has an extension 73 disposed within reach of the operator. Arm 74 is also pivotally supported on shaft 71 and is connected to lever 69 by means of a pin 75 passing through an arcuate slot 76 in arm 68. There is, therefore,

: obtained a lost motion connection between these depression so that the bolt 51 cannot lock toothed ring 48. Lever 69,,is also provided with 6 a substantially horizontal projection 81 having a stud 82 thereon and; between which and a lateral projection 88 on the bracket 72 there is interposed a spring '84. The purpose of this spring is to elevate the hand lever 69 when the operator releases the lever. Lugs 85, 86 on lever 69 are threaded to receive the adjusting screws 7'7 and 87, the former'of which determines the rocking movement of the lever 62 which coopercertain positions with respect to the axis of the disc. The greater portion of the outer cam surface is concentric with the axis of the disc, there being provided, however, two depressions 89, 9l'thereon, between which is a raised portion 92 in the form oi a tooth. The inner cam has a track 93in which the roller 64 is guided during the open or elevated position of the press head, the locking bolt 51 also being raised at this time. There is also an enlarged channel 94 disposed nearer the axis of the discto permit lever 62 to be rocked downwardly to lower the locking bolt. A depression 95 in the inner cam track is so spaced with reference to the connection of the link 41 with the disc 42 that lever 62 may be elevated to raise bolt 51 when the press head is in its lowermost or final pressure position. It is, therefore, obvious, that final pressure may be maintained for as long a period as desired,

since the toggle is straightened and the motor disconnected from the crank disc 42 when roller 64 rests'in depression 95. When it is desired to elevate the press head after application of final pressure, the hand lever is depressed whereupon the power mechanism is reengaged to rotate the crank disc and break the toggle.

In Fig. 2 the disc 42 is shown in the position it assumes when the press head has been lowered to within a short distance of the buck. The depression 91 in the outer cam surface underlies the roller 79 on lever 74 of the bolt lowering mechanism and permits actuation of this mechanism. It is also apparent thatwhen the parts are in the positions indicated in Fig.2 the operator may grasp handles provided on the press head to pat the goods lying on the buck preliminary to the" application of final pressure.v When the hand lever extension 73 is depressed the differential gear is locked to couple the disc 42 withthe'motor whereupon the disc is rotated in a direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. l andZ. As the toggle is straightened to apply final pressure, the tooth 92 on the outer cam engages roller 79, acting as a kicker to enable the operator to ascertain when final pressure has been applied. The lever ,73 is then raised by the cam action of tooth 92 against roller 79 whereupon the spring 63 which elevates lever 62 and roller 64 enters depression 95 to release the locking bolt. In the meantime the tooth 92-rides past roller '79 bringing this roller into alignment with depression 89 on the outer cam surface. The extension '73 can then be depressed to break the toggle and raise the press head.

The power mechanism may be utilized for lowering the press head to premilinary pressing cooperation with the buck. For this purpose there is provided a brake adapted to hold the gear 4'7 stationary with respect to the machine .frame. The brake comprises a brake shoe 96 having a brake lining 97 adapted to cooperate with a brake drum 98 bolted or otherwise secured to the toothed ring 48. The shoe 96 is provided with a pintle 99 slidably mounted in a guide 101 in the gear housing 53. Cooperating with a squared portion 102 andshoulder 103 on the pintle 99 is a forked arm 10 i fastened to shaft 105 mounted in a bearing 106 on the base frame of the machine. Also fastened to shaft 105 is an arm 10'? having an arcuate s1ot108 in its end. 'Integrally formed with the arm 107 on the boss 109 is an arm 111 forming with arm 10'] a bell cranklever. Arm 111is connected to a link 112, the other end of which is connected to a foot pedal 113 pivoted to .the frame of the machine at 114. 'A spring 115 interposed between the foot pedal and the base frame normally holds the foot pedal in elevated position, at which time the brake shoe is released. Depression of the foot pedal engages the brake shoe with the brake drum 08 thereby effecting rotation'of the disc 42. The toggle will then be straightened and the press head lowered.

In order that the press head may be brought into only preliminary pressing relation with the goods on the buck, means are provided for releasing the brake when the press head has been lowered a predetermined distance. These means comprise an arm 116, rotatable on shaft 105, having a roller 117 at lower end and a cam 118 on disc 42. Arm 11c has a pin 119 thereon cooperating with slot 108 and a lateral shoulder 120 adapted to abut an adjustable stud 121 threaded in a projection 122 on the arm 111. Cam 118 is so positioned with respect to the corn nection of the arm 41 with disc i2 that it strikes the roller 11'? when the head has been lowered to the position in which the hand lever '73 may be depressed. in other words, the initial outward movement of the arm 116 corresponds with the beginning of the application of final heavy pressure. When arm 116 is thrown outwardly by the cam 118, shaft 105 is rocked to release the brake from the brake drum and prevent further transmission of power from the motor to the disc 42. If it is desired to apply further power to the crank it is necessary to lock the differential by means of hand lever '73. In this manner power actuation of the press head is interrupted to prevent application of final heavy pressure by a movement of the foot pedal while the operator may have his hands on the buck. It is desirable that the operator have manual control over the press head lever during preliminary lowering of the lever and usually .its elevated position, the bolt may drop by gravity into engagement with the toothed ring 48. Under these conditions power would be applied to the press head. A safety device is, therefore, provided in the form of a flange 123 on the spider frame 124. It will be seen that the spider frame is made in two parts bolted together, one of these parts having the flange 123 thereon. The contour of this flange is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The rise 125 of the cam corresponds to the open position of the press, while the low portion 126 of the cam corresponds to that phase of the operation of the machine wherein the locking of the ring 18 is effected by depression of the hand lever '73. It will be seen that if, for any reason, the bolt 51 should tend to drop by gravity at any time other than that during which it is supposed to be lowered by actuation of the hand control means, the high portion of the card which underlies the bolt will prevent it from dropping into the toothed periphery 49 of thering 48.

From the foregoing-description the operation and purposeof the several mechanisms will be apparent. application of, final pressure can be effected only when the press head has been lowered suifi ciently, either manually or by power, to prevent the operator from inserting his hands between the cooperating press elements. It will also be seen that the power means for lowering the press to. preliminary pressing relation with the buck is limited so that serious injury to the operator is obviated by releasing the power meanfor the interval "between the preliminary pressing and final application of heavy pressure; Accidental operation'of the power means by. any means other than the brake-operated means for power application or the hand actuation of the-differential loci: is prevented bythe cam which underlies the locking bolt.

While a specific form of the invention has been described, the arrangement of parts is subject to modification and it is, therefore, not in-.' tended to limit the invention to the embodiment herein illustrated and described. 1

What is claimed is:'- I

1. In a garment press, the combination of a buck; a head; constantly moving power means; mechanism connected to said head for lowering the head; means under control of'the operator for transmitting power from said power means to said mechanism to effect preliminary lowering of the head; means for rendering said transmitting means ineffective when the press is in substantially closed position; and other means It is obvious,.for instance, that the for thereafterrendering said transmitting means efiective to produce final heavy pressure.

2 In a garment press, the combination of a buck; a head; constantly moving power means; mechanism connected to said head for lowering the head; a gear train including differential gearing for transmitting power from said power means to said mechanism, saiddiiierential gear ing being normally ineffective to transmit power. from said power means to said mechanism; means for arresting movement of one of the gears of said differential gearing to transmit power from the power means to said mechanism for lowering the press head a predetermined distance; means for rendering said arresting means ineffective when the press head has been lowered said predetermined'distance; and means for thereafter arresting said gear to transmit power from said power means to mechanism and produce final heavy pressure- 3. In a garment press, the combination of a buck; ahead; constantly moving power means; mechanism connected to said head for lowering the head; means for transmitting power fIOlll said power means to said mechanism, said means being normally ineffective to transmit power; ifoot controlled means for rendering said transmitting means eifective to cause preliminary lowering of the head; means connected with said mechanism for rendering said transmitting means ineffective to transmit power when the press is in substantially closed position; and manually operated means for thereafter rendering effective the power transmitting means to produce final heavy pressure.

said

4. Ina garment press,'the combination of a buck; a head; constantly moving power means; mechanism connected to said head for lowering the head; a gear train including Idifierential gearing fortransmitting power from said power means to said mechanism, said'difierential gearing being normally ineffectivelto transmit power from said power means to said mechanism; a foot-controlled brake for arresting mov'ementof one of the gears of said differential gearing to render the power transmitting; gearing effective for lowering the press head. a predetermined dis tance; means for ,automaticallyvreleasing said brake when the press head has been lowered said predetermined distance; and manuallyoperated means for thereafter arresting said gear to render the power transmitting gearing efiective to produce final heavy pressure.

5. In a garment press, the combinationbf a Y buck; a head; constantly moving power means; a pressure applying mechanism; differential gearing for transmitting power from said power means to said pressure applying mechanism, said gearing being normally inefiectiveto transmit power to said pressure applyingmechanism; a gear lock for arresting movement of one of the gears of said difierential gearing to effect power transmission from said power means to said pressure applying mechanism; and means positioned beneath said look by said pressure applying mechanism when the head is in elevated position and engageable with the lock when so positioned to hold the lock out of engagement with respect to said gearing.

6. In a garment press, the combination of a buck; a head; constantly moving powermeans;

atoggle mechanism connected to said, head for lowering the head; a crank element for rocking said toggle; differential gearing for transmitting power from said power means to said crank element; said gearing being normally ineiiective to establish power transmission between said power means and said crank element; a gear lock for arresting movement of one of the gears of said diiferential gearing to establish power transmission between said power means and said crank element; operator operated means for actuating said locking means; means to prevent actuation of said operator operated means when said head is in elevated position; and means rotatable with said crank element and engageablewith the lock to prevent engagement of the lock with said gear when said press head is in elevated position.

7. In a garment press, thecombination of a buck; a head; constantly moving power means; pressure applying mechanism'connected to said head for lowering the head; diiierential gearing except when the head has been lowered.

HARRY G. SUTTON. 

